Yacht kit

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the invention is to make any rowboat readily convertible to a sailboat. It offers an economical method for learning the rudiments of sailing prior to investing in more sophisticated sailing equipment. It is also a pollution abatement device, in that we&#39;&#39;re promoting here a move away from petroleum power and its inherent blemishes on the environment and toward naturals own way of propulsion. It is characterized by the means used, considered both in conjunction with one another and independently of one another. Both power and stabilizing units pass through a single rigid housing amidships, while the steering unit operates from the stern.

United States Patent [191 Hendriclrson 1 Oct. 8, 1974 YACHT KIT [76] Inventor: William H. Hendrickson, Rt. 2, Box

17-A, Mancos, Colo. 81328 22 Filed: ,11u1y12,1973

21 App1.No.: 378,533

[52] US. Cl. 1.14/39 [51] Int. Cl 1363b 35/72 [58] Field of Search 114/126, 39, 102, 162; 9/2 S, 2 R, 2 F

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,041,994 7/1962 Brodie 114/39 3,141,435 7/1964 Moffitt 114/39 3,383,720 5/1968 Greig et al. 114/39 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examine'rCharles E. Frankfort 5 7 ABSTRACT The purpose of the invention is to make any rowboat readily convertible to a sailboat. It offers an economical method for learning the rudiments of sailing prior to investing in more sophisticated sailing equipment. It is also a pollution abatement device, in that were promoting here a move away from petroleum power and its inherent blemishes on the environment and toward naturals own way of propulsion.

It is characterized by the means used, considered both in conjunction with one another and independently of one another. Both power and stabilizing units pass through a single rigid housing amidships, while the steering unit operates from the stern.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIED 081 81974 Fig l PAIENIEDBBT 8M4 3.839.978 sum ear 5 PATENIED BET 74 sum 3 0r 5 YACHT KIT References (cross) cited in preliminary search US. Pat. Nos. 3,097,373 and 3,383,719.

The structure of the different units is-quite simple involving, in the case of the power unit (mast, boom, and sail assembly), one rigid, round, hollow, horizontal section, and one rigid, round hollow, vertical section connected in such a fashion as to permit the horizontal section to rotate about the verticle, as well as fold up toward the vertical when not in use. A sleeve and housing assembly contains the lower vertical member, which rests on a greased circular disk to facilitate horizontal rotation, in a base block rigidly fixed to the hull of the boat. Suitable cloth material for use as a sail, the bottom of which sleeves the horizontal member, is raised on the vertical member (attached by rings) by means of a rope attached to a reinforcement or headboard at the apex of the sail, and through a rotating member or pulley fixed to the top of the vertical member or mast.

As an integral part of the power units connection to the boat, the stabilizing unit (leeboard assembly) consists of two rigid, round, hollow, horizontal members, one each permanently fixed to the port and starboard sides of the above power units sleeve and housing assembly. These horizontal members terminate on both port and starboard sides of the boat in the inner half of a short horizontal sleeve, which is permanently fixedto an oar horn lock oar socket assembly by means of a band, bolted at bottom to hold the oar horns. This entire rigid horizontal section, made up of the two members and housing, is now held in a fixed position by drift pins through the short sleeves and the horizontal members, and supplemented by cotter pins through the oar horns at the bottom of the oar sockets. Rounding out the stabilizing unit, are two rigid, flat, solid, rotating vertical members, one each port and starboard, the top sections of which are bolted to a plate hollow spindle assembly, which slides into the outer half of the short sleeves, rotating therein. These vertical members are held in the up or non-operational out-of-water position by a drift (shear) pin throught the short sleeve and the hollow spindle. They are held in the down or operational position by a shear (drift) pin through the short sleeve and hollow spindle. A safety chain, one end of which is bolted to the'vertical member, and the other end of which is fastened to the drift pins on the rigid horizontal section above, secures this vertical member in the event that the shear pin becomes operational.

The steering unit (rudder and tiller assembly) is composed of a centered vertical transom sleeve into which fits and rotates horizontally an upright solid spindle, an-

gled at the top and fixed permanently to the center of a short section of hollow spindle. This hollow spindle is held in an angular housing by means of circular clamps permanently fixed to the ends of the housing on its inside facing, so that this-housing and attachments next described are free to rotate vertically about the hollow spindle. To the center of the back face of the angle iron housing is permanently and perpendicularly fixedv the edges of two flat, rigid plates the thickness of a rigid, flat, solid and vertical member apart. This entire metal unit just described is bolted to the vertical member which is held in its up position by means of a drift pin (shear) through the top face of the angular housing and the enclosed hollow spindle. The vertical member is held in its down" position by a shear pin (drift) through the top face of the angular housing and the enclosed hollow spindle. A rigid, solid, adjustable horizontal member, connecting to the vertical member at its top, by means of a bracket-axle arrangement, controls the horizontal rotation of the complete unit.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become apparent will be found in the details of construction and operation more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing Yot Kit installed on a typical rowboat.

FIG. 2 is a larger perspective view showing all parts of the leeboard assembly.

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of FIG. 2 illustrating the assembly of mast block, mast sleeve, and mast.

FIG. 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of FIG. 2 illustrating leeboard, crossbar, short sleeve and oar socket assembly.

' FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing all parts of the rudder and tiller assembly.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view taken in the direction of the section line 66 illustrating mounting plate and hardware of rudder hook-up to boat. v

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing assembly of parts in the rudder and tiller assembly.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in the case of FIG. 1, the mast 1, a rigid round vertical member rotates horizontally in a rigid round sleeve 2, both mast and sleeve passing vertically through a rigid cubicle housing 3, and terminating on a greased circular disk, to facilitate rotation, in a mast block 4 fixed rigidly to the hull of the boat. FIG..3 "portrays a cross section of the mast 1, sleeve 2, and mast block 4.

In FIG. 2, the two leeboard crossbars 5, round, rigid, hollow members, are fixed permanently to the port and starboard sides of housing 3, and terminate outwardly inside the inner half of short horizontal sleeves 8. Drift pins 12, round rigid vertical members, pass through matching holes in crossbars 5 and sleeves 8, to assist in holding housing 3 in upright position. Sleeves 8 are fixed permanently to bands 9, which in turn are bolted 1 1 to oar horn 10. This entire sleeve, band, oar horn assembly is held in forward oar socket (to be added to drawing illustrated in pencil on-copy of FIGS. 2 and 4) by cotter pins (to be added to drawing illustrated in pencil on copy of FIGS. 2 and 4) passing through oar horns 10 at bottom of oar sockets.

The two leeboards 7, flat, rigid, solid, rotating vertical Members, the top sections of which are bolted 15 to plates 6 fixed permanently to hollow spindles 16. These leeboard-spindle assemblies: slide into the outer half of short sleeves 8, rotating therein, and being held in the up, or non-operational olut-of-water position by drift (shear) pins 13 through the short sleeves 8 and hollow spindles 16, and held in the down or operational position by shear (drift) pins 13 through short sleeves 8 and hollow spindles 16. Safety chains 14, one end of each bolted 15 to leeboard 7, and the other ends of which are fastened to drift pins 12 through crossbars 5, secure the leeboards 7, in the event that the shear pins become operational.

FIG. 4 portrays a cross section of the leeboard, crossbar, short sleeve, and oar socket assembly.

In FIG. 6 is a centered vertical transom sleeve 32, into which fits and rotates horizontally an upright solid threaded spindle 24, adjustable and held in place by nuts 33. Transom sleeve is fixed permanently to flat, rigid plate 19, bolted 31 to transom.

In FIG. 5, rudder spindle 24 is angled at the top and is fixed permanently to the center of the rudder drum 23, a short round rigid section of hollow spindle. The rudder drum 23 is enclosed in a rigid angular housing 21 by means of circular clamps 22 fixed permanently to the ends of housing 21 on its inside facing, so that this housing and attachments next described are free to rotate vertically about the rudder drum. To the center of the back face of the angular housing 21 are fixed permanently and perpendicularly the edges of the rudder connection plates 20, two flat rigid members, the thickness of the rudder 17, a flat rigid, solid member (vertical) apart.

The entire spindle, drum, housing assembly is now bolted 30 to the rudder 17 which is held in its up or non-operational out-of-water position by means of drift (shear) pins 29, and in its down or operational position by means of shear (drift) pins 29 through the top face of the angular housing 21 and the rudder drum 23.

The tiller 18, a rigid, solid, adjustable horizontal member connecting to the rudder 17 at the top by means of a hinge, or bracket axle arrangement, controls the horizontal rotation of the complete steering unit.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A complete and durable boat conversion kit that is adaptable to any size rowboat for the purpose of converting the rowboat to a sailboat; said kit comprising: a sail, a mast supporting said sail, a pair of rigid, hollow, tubular sections fixed permanently to the port and starboard sides of a cubicle housing and extending athwart ships, a vertical sleeve member extending through said housing and having a lower end supported by a mast block which is rigidly fixed to the boat and an upper end adapted to receive said mast, said pair of rigid, hollow tubular sections terminating in a pair of horizontal sleeve members, said sleeve members supported by a pair of oar horns that fit into sockets on the gunwales of the boat, said horizontal sleeve members also supporting a pair of leeboards outboard of the gunwales of the boat.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said kit further includes a rudder-tiller assembly adapted to be mounted on the stern of the boat and held abaft of the boat in horizontal position by drift pins when not in use, said drift pins attached to safety chains on said ruddertiller assembly.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular sections and the horizontal sleeve members are held together by drift pins which are attached to safety chains on said leeboards. 

1. A complete and durable boat conversion kit that is adaptable to any size rowboat for the purpose of converting the rowboat to a sailboat; said kit comprising: a sail, a mast supporting said sail, a pair of rigid, hollow, tubular sections fixed permanently to the port and starboard sides of a cubicle housing and extending athwart ships, a vertical sleeve member extending through said housing and having a lower end supported by a mast block which is rigidly fixed to the boat and an upper end adapted to receive said mast, said pair of rigid, hollow tubular sections terminating in a pair of horizontal sleeve members, said sleeve members supported by a pair of oar horns that fit into sockets on the gunwales of the boat, said horizontal sleeve members also supporting a pair of leeboards outboard of the gunwales of the boat.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said kit further includes a rudder-tiller assembly adapted to be mounted on the stern of the boat and held abaft of the boat in horizontal position by drift pins when not in use, said drift pins attached to safety chains on said rudder-tiller assembly.
 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular sections and the horizontal sleeve members are held together by drift pins which are attached to safety chains on said leeboards. 